Amelia Bishop is exhausted by the prospect of marrying her fiancé and settling for the traditional role expected of her. In order to shake him off, she's ready to scandalize society by wearing trousers, going to a gaming hall, and more. By her side is her old childhood friend, Nicholas Wakefield, and her beloved sister, Julia. Nicholas desperately wants Amelia to see him as more than a friend, even if his family would disown him if they knew. Through adventure, scandal, and shocking misbehavior, Amelia and Nicholas may just find a happily ever after yet.

There are so many components that go into a good historical romance: setting, tension, good use of tropes, and more. Kimberly Bell has each of these in her latest, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SCANDALOUS, and tops it all off with a heartwarming sisterhood at the core of the novel. Amelia and Julia have such distinct voices, and I enjoyed every single interaction between them, including the realistic arguments the two have. Readers will be thrilled that the second installment in this duology will follow Julia, as there's no telling one sister's story without the other.

Nicholas and Amelia make a fun, sometimes hilarious, couple. Amelia's determination to create scandal pushes on, no matter what objections Nicholas makes, and eventually, he realizes he has no choice but to assist her. His own set of problems, namely sticking up for himself and what he wants to his family, make him a well-rounded character, as well as someone who can complement Amelia. Romance lovers who favor the childhood friends/childhood crush trope should grab this immediately.

With smart wit, engaging writing, and a guaranteed fun premise, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SCANDALOUS kicks off an exciting duology about two sisters and the men they love.